Tips & tricks for the drilling days.
“Just concentrate harder” isn’t much of a plan. A few changes to your space, schedule and expectations can be.
Use what fits your role and workplace. You shouldn’t have to solve a building-wide noise problem on your own.
Give your workspace options
- Ask about quieter rooms or approved alternative desks. Check access, equipment and booking rules.
- If permitted, try a seat farther from the affected side of the building. Compare locations rather than assuming one will be quiet.
- Keep a small move-ready kit: charger, notebook and whatever you need for your next task.
Let the task fit the moment
- Ask facilities whether a construction schedule is available. Treat it as a guide, not a guarantee.
- Reserve quieter windows for detailed writing, analysis or calls when your role allows.
- Keep a short backup list of routine tasks so interruptions don’t require a fresh plan every time.
Headphones: helpful, not a safety plan.
Noise-cancelling headphones may make some background sound less distracting, but ordinary headphones are not hearing protection. Don’t turn music up to overpower drilling.
If your workplace requires hearing protection, follow its guidance and use the specified equipment. Make sure you can still receive essential alerts and communicate safely.
Take a genuinely different break
If possible, spend a break somewhere quieter rather than swapping your spreadsheet for another screen in the same noisy spot. A seated pause in a quieter room counts, too.
Keep breaks practical and consistent with your workplace arrangements.
Raise the pattern, not just the frustration
Note when noise happens, how long it lasts and which tasks it disrupts. Ask your manager, facilities team or safety representative about workable adjustments.
Report painful noise, ringing ears or difficulty hearing promptly. Seek medical advice for symptoms; don’t simply push through.